fashion. Color coding of electrical components are to let the user know what the internal characteristics of the devise are from the external code. This works because the user can have faith in the manufacturer to supply components bearing a certain color code that are consistent in the coded-for property, and distinct from components of different colors. If electrical manufacturer did as badly as Nature apparently has-so that components bearing any color code varied widely among themselves, and overlapped extensively with the components of other color codes-users would abandon the color coding as worthless, and 5 resort to direct tests on the components themselves to find one that in fact has the properties desired. Another objection to the metaphor is that it is value-laden, and the values are not very sympathetic ones. Why should ordinary people of color, be equated to simple electrical components whose only role is as interchangeable parts in more complex systems? Why should Nature be arranging things for the benefits of personnel managers? I think that if Professor Shockly had written down the quoted sentence and then stopped to think whether it might give a misleading impression or unintended offense, Professor Shockly would have wound up saying it different. The research of race differences in intelligence requires quite a bit of courage today. Mostly because scientists working in the area have to be constantly aware that their freedom to seek knowledge carries a responsibility not to threaten the freedom on others. They must also be prepared to engage in an unceasing debate about the ethical issues raised by their research. As for the questions, at least some of them, should be able to be answered. So they ought to be asked. "There is a most absurd and audacious Method of reasoning avowed by some Bigots and Enthusiasts, and through Fear assented to by some wiser and better Men; it is this. They argue against a fair Discussion of...
